Some important DOs:(these may help prevent a crisis being a disaster)
DO keep ALL your program disks safe, including your Windows installation disk
DO keep your Product Key Numbers safe (often on stickers on the disk box)
DO make regular backups (copies) of your work -this is usually stored in My Documents - if you are not sure how call in PC Life Support
If you are on Broadband or Cable - set your computer to automatically update Windows - if you are on dial-up - set aside a time once a month to update important security updates
Call in PC Life Support for help or advice
DO make sure you have at least a Power Surge Protector to stop damage from poor electrical supply - about £15 from larger supermarkets or your local computer shop. There has been a whole speight of these lately - some damaging the computer beyond repair - AND KEEP GOOD BACKUP COPIES. This is vitally important, especially in rural communities.

Some important DON'Ts:
Don't open emails with attachments unless you know who sent them
Don't be fooled by what look like warnings from your computer when you are on websites - Don't click on any part of these if the pointer becomes a pointing hand (they are only likely to be adverts - but they will take you where you didn't want to go - and could be malicious)
Don't click "Run" when surfing, if any message pops up with this option (unless you know you were downloading) - you could end up installing a "dialler" which could run up your phone bill horribly.
Don't be "bullied" or conned into upgrading your Internet Security program when the year's subscription runs out. I know they'll offer a deal, which looks cheap, and you'll think you have to go for it. BUT YOU DON'T. In most cases the anti-virus updates will keep coming even when the version year number changes. Almost all new versions require more computing power, and unless your computer is "blasting along" with power to spare, you don't need more demands on that power, without significant improvements to functionality.

What's this "Choose a Browser", and what do I do about it?
Well it looks like the lawyers have finally got to Microsoft and forced them to offer you a choice of Internet Browsers. If we thought about it at all, most of us thought there was only one - Internet Explorer and despite the geeks bleating on at how slow and useless it was, most of us were quite content with it.
Anyway if you have Automatic updates set - AND YOU SHOULD - then one day soon you will turn on and be offered a bewildering array of browsers. Let's be clear - you can't get rid of Internet Explorer, oh no, it's built into Windows, but you can choose another option to see internet pages. So it is up to you. My advice is - if you are content with what you've got - choose Internet Explorer - Install. If not, as they say "the world's your oyster".

What about Windows 7 - should I consider switching?
Windows 7 was released in October 2009, to somewhat less loud acclamation than it's predecessor Windows Vista did 3 years previously. Microsoft was greatly chastened by the appaling response Vista got from the public and professionals, and were determined to downplay the Windows 7 release. The have produced a good product, it seems very stable and has a good deal of support from other equipment manufacturers, as they've had it for nearly a year to get all their equipment working properly with it. It's not cheap however, and upgrading should not be considered lightly, particularly if you are happy with how your PC is working, or if you have oldish equipment such as printers and scanners. There is no direct upgrade from Windows XP so you will need to reinstall all your programs after installing Win 7, you will need to use EasyTransfer to back up your data files and computer settings. If you are upgrading from Vista then you can take your programs with you provided you upgrade to the correct version. Check out the microsoft website to see which are allowed - windows.microsoft.com/upgradeadvisor .

In summary - yes it is very good, do you need it? - I doubt it.

Watch out - cybercriminals have turned social networking into a minefield.
If you fall for one of these threats you may cause very serious consequences. Long gone are the days when you could avoid being scammed simply by using antivirus software. The more aware we are the harder bad guys are working on fooling us. And let me tell you, their techniques are getting more and more sophisticated! Have a look at some examples of the latest cyber criminals’ creations and how to avoid them.

Koobface (social networking worm). It gains access to Facebook profile pages and directs you to view a video that then encourages you to update your Flash player. Malicious files such as flash_update.exe and bloivar29.exe are being downloaded and installed which results in a range of visible problems, including modifications to your Facebook profile, with the immediate result being an error message to contact support. There is also the very real potential for your identity and finances to be compromised!

Picture files carrying malware are "planted" on social networking websites and instant messaging programs. Hackers try to convince you that your friend has sent you a message or IM to view pictures. Legitimate looking URL when clicked on sends you to an illegitimate website hosting malicious files and executables, which have been modified to appear to be genuine picture files (jpg, gif or bmp). When you download and open those "pictures"; the malware unknowingly runs on your computer. It allows hacker to take control over your operating system as well as the information in it and exposes you to identity fraud and financial loss!

UPS Delivery Threat, also known as Zbot. It delivers an illegitimate file when you are visiting a counterfeit UPS delivery site. Zbot has been known to distribute via email phishing and instant messenger. Upon informing you that you have missed a UPS delivery, the message urges you to view the invoice online, which in fact sends you to the counterfeit website which downloads a malicious program designed to bypass the firewall and then steal banking and personal information.

If you think you've got these call in PC Life Support for help on this